Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Today we are meeting to resume discussion of the general scheme of the marine protected areas Bill 2023. This is the second meeting on this matter. The third meeting will be held on Thursday and then we will prepare our pre-legislative scrutiny, PLS, report including our recommendations from these meetings. I welcome Professor Tasman Crowe who is professor of marine ecology, director of University College Dublin, UCD's, earth institute, chair of the national biodiversity forum and chair of the marine protected areas advisory group, back to the committee. We appreciate his attendance. Professor Crowe's opening statement and briefing have been circulated to members

I will read a quick note on privilege before we commence. Members are reminded of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. Witnesses and others attending the committee room are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their contributions to today’s meeting. This means they will have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. Witnesses attending the meeting remotely are not afforded absolute privilege.

Both members and witnesses are expected not to abuse the privilege they enjoy, and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction. Members and witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Before Professor Crowe commences his opening statement, I remind the committee that the format we follow is that member have approximately seven minutes to ask questions and receive the answers to those questions. As we are not likely to have full attendance today, we can stretch it out to eight or ten minutes. I invite Professor Crowe to make his opening statement.